Strategies for American Hindus

[Guest guest]

I wrote this for another forum and am sharing it here for yr perusal

and comments.Thanks

Dear Esteemed Hindu Thinkers,

I have absolute repsect for you all but feel that many of your

comments reflect an isolation from the ground reality in my country.

Therefore I have a question and some comments. Is there not a

difference between Islamic and Christian Triumphalists and individual

believers? I am repeatedly surprised to see Hindus who know first

hand the impact of having yr beliefs, traditions and values

assaulted, yet are so keen to discredit the individual faith of

others.

 

As an American, living in America, I am offering my perspective. By

Hindus urging alliances with the ACLU, attacking the religious

Identity of average Americans, attacking displays of the 10

commandments, you are siding with some of the very same enemies of

Hinduism that are attacking India.

 

I know its complicated, but surely you can separate antagonistic

conversionists from yr everyday Christian. I get the feeling that

even if Christians did not practice conversion and the Muslims Jihad,

you would all still be against them. By the same standard, are not

the Jews a problem?

 

I am convinced that the best approach for the Hindus is to be strong

in all arenas and from that foundation of strength we can work with

good people of all faiths and backgrounds. This is not just a theory.

The Christians have publicly recognized Vedic scholars like Michael

Cremo, Richard Thompson as heroes. In Hawaii, known Krishna followers

are leaders in the Republican party and have repeatedly been elected

to office. The Mormons funded the building of a Krishna temple in

Utah. Why? Because the Christians recognize in them people of faith

who value traditions and culture. Please name even one instance when

any American left group has funded any American Hindu project?

 

The strategy of allying with the ACLU and other extreme left groups

is detrimental to American Hindus in the long run. I am an American

and a Hindu. I for one do not feel comfortable trading attacks

against Christains in America to get back at the Conversionists in

India.

 

Each arena of activism needs to have an appropriate strategy for the

long term benefit of Dharma. I dont beleive that you can have a

positive impact with a majority of Americans by allying with groups

that are dedicated to destroying the rights of the Nation-State,

Religion and the Traditional Family structure.

 

Among other things, the ACLU is championing the authority of

International law above and beyond the laws of individual nations.

Unlike most other countries we can say and promote anything we want.

We dont get arrested for printing pictures of Mohammed unlike

Indians. America recognizes Hinduism unlike many 'enlightend'

democracies of Europe. We dont give one religious group previledges

above and beyond other groups. American law does not need supplanting

by International law.

 

In America, most Judicial nominees are either directly or indirectly

elected by the people. The ACLU says that American law should be

subservient to the decisions of un-elected judges in Europe.if

America succumbs to this, India will not be spared this same

treatement. It is only India's current political power and Americas

lack of support for the International Tribunals that is stopping

Hindu leaders like Narendra Modi from being hauled into the

International Court in the Hague. If the ACLU has its way, any

American could be subjected to the will and precendent of foriegn

courts.

 

Just last month, the local chapter of the ACLU blocked the democratic

choice of a Seattle community to keep convicted violent sex offenders

out of their community. Despite some legalistic jargon, to most

Americans this a complete disregard for commmunity standards and

wishes.

 

American Hindus need to ally with others that share our values. By

interacting with them from a position of strength we will achieve our

goals. By allying with the American version of the enemies of

Hinduism, we are empowering the enemies of India.

 

Those conversionists that are targeting India can be easily exposed

and isolated thru strong political alliances. The fact is no concrete

and realistic action has been taken up by the Hindu leadership to

discredit the Conversionists in America. It is an easy thing to do. I

and other American Hindus have frequently presented solid proposals.

Yet nothing has been done. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT IF MY

PROPOSALS WERE TAKEN UP BY THE SANGH, AT LEAST 50% OF AMERICAN

CONVERISON MONEY WOULD DRY UP. IF I HAD THE RESOURCES TO DO IT, I

WOULD JUST SHUT UP AND DO IT, BUT I DONT. SO I WONT BE QUIET.

 

To be clear, I have the same goals as you all to promote the correct

understanding of Hindu culture. I just dont agree on the tactics that

I have seen proposed by you all. By denying that Christians and

Muslims have a culture is not going to garner us much support. This

approach creates many obstacles to promoting Dharma in America.

 

I am speaking from 1st hand experiance of successfully promoting

Dharma in my country. Its not just theoritical. If I had publicly

stated the comments I have seen from hindus re: Christianity, I would

be battling them instead of promoting Dharma. Our American laws of

freedom of speech already protect Hindus and have truly enabled us.

Our only problem is a lack of cohesiveness and committed financial

empowerment.

 

So to be clear, I am not addressing the situation in India

re:Christians and Muslims. I am talking about developing effective

alliances in my own country that will give American Hindus a long

term and prominent place in the future of America. The idea that

anyone is going to discredit the faith of millions of Americans in

Jesus and turn them all into Hindus or some

ambivelant 'Spiritualism'is not realistic.

 

However, by developing our political and financial strength while

simultaneously creating an awareness of the humane track record of

Vedic/Hindu civilization we will surely open up the hearts and minds

of all good hearted and well intended Americans.

 

For the record, as I told Sri Ram Madhavji (RSS Spokesman), I am an

American Patriot. One of the primary reasons I am dedicated to Hindu

culture is because it is obviously the only civilization that has

practical solutions to our countries problems. These can all be

applied to America's needs without everyone officially converting to

Hinduism. If it happened spontaneously, thats great, but it is not

going to happen in the near future. So our best strategy is to work

within the American system and apply Hindu wisdom whenever and

wherever possible.

 

As my Grandpa says you can attract more flies with honey than with

vinegar. So by Hindus publicly allying with the Gay rights movemment,

Abortionists, ACLU, Saudi-funded American Muslim groups, Atheistic

Jewish groups, Pornographers, Psuedo-human rights groups etc,

American Hindus will become marginalized and stuck on the extreme

left fringes of society.

 

When American Hindus publicly support the same traditional values

that American Christians, Independent Muslim groups and Religious

Jews support, we will be empowered. This is my view based on the

practical reality in my own country. India's reality regarding

Christians and Muslims is a whole different story and I will leave

that to India's citizens to deal with.

Vrndavan Parker